Dental finishing tool, especially for interproximal work



Sept. 8, 1959 K. R. w. HEPPE DENTAL FINISHING TOOL, ESPECIALLY FORINTERPROXIMAL WORK Filed NOV. 3, 1954 uniiifml United St DENTALFINISHENG TOGL, ESPECIALLY FOR INTERPROXIMAL WORK Karl Richard WolfgangHeppe, Stuttgart, Germany, as-

signor to Hager 8; Meisingcr G.m.h.H., Dusseldorf, Germany The presentinvention relates to dental tools and, more specifically, to a dentalfinishing .tool especially for interproximal work. The finishing toolssuch as cylinders, cones, flame and the like which are indispensable forthe clean polishing of the easily accessible surfaces of a dentalfilling are not always satisfactory or suitable for removing excessfilling from the interproximal space. With a narrow interproximal space,there exists the danger that for instance the flame finisher hollows outthe bulging shape of a filling and thus contributes to the retaining offood residues in the interproximal space.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide afinishing tool which will meet practically all requirements inconnection with the removing of excess filling from the interproximalspace and will also be suitable for other interproximal work even in anarrow interproximal space.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dental finishingtool of the above mentioned type which will be relatively simple toproduce and easy to handle.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear moreclearly from the following specification in connection with theaccompanying drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 illustrates on a greatly enlarged scale a view of a dentalfinishing tool according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates the use of the new tool in connection withinterproximal work.

The new finshing tool according to the present invention ischaracterized in that it has a concave head which tapers into a point.By means of such a finishing tool, any excess of dental fillings caneasily be removed from the interproximal space without hollowing out thein serted fillings. Such a finishing tool also makes it possible whenpolishing the teeth to adapt the interproximal space to the shape of theteeth.

A finishing tool according to the invention may be designed as a cutterwith corresponding teeth or it may also be smooth or designed as agrooved polisher or burnisher.

Referring now to the drawing, the dental finishing tool according to theinvention comprises a shank 1, a neck CS Q 2 and a head 3. According tothe invention, the head 3 is concave and tapers into a point. The head 3may be provided with teeth but it also may be smooth or grooved. Withreference to Fig. 2, this figure diagrammatically illustrates twoadjacent teeth 10 and 11 respectively provided with fillings 4 and 5.The interproximal space has been designated with the reference numeral6. As will be clear from Fig. 2, the head 3 of the interproximalfinisher may easily be introduced between the teeth 10 and 1 1 to take01f the excess filling 4, 5.

The interproximal finisher according to the invention is also suitablefor removing the remaining tartar and for smoothening the tooth boneafter a superficial removal of tartar.

It is, of course, understood that the present invention is not limitedto the particular construction shown in the drawing but also comprisesany modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A dental finishing tool for interproximal work, which comprises aneck, and a head of concave contour connected to said neck and taperingfrom said neck into nearly a point, said head being provided with teethhaving their cutting edges follow the contour of said head whileextending from said neck to said point, cross sections taken in anytransverse plane through said head have a zigzag contour with theoutermost points of the teeth located along a circle.

2. A dental finishing tool for interproximal work, which comprises astem, at head of concave contour, and a neck interconnecting said stemand said head, said neck having a concave contour merging with said stemand said head while decreasing in diameter toward the central portion ofsaid neck, said head tapering from its connection with said neck intonearly a point and being provided with teeth having their cutting edgesfollow the contour of said head while extending from said neck to saidpoint, cross sections taken in any transverse plane through said headhave a zigzag contour with the outermost points of the teeth locatedalong a circle.

3. A dental finishing tool, especially for inter-proximal work, whichcomprises a head of concave contour tapering and ending into nearly apoint, said head being provided with grooves extending in thelongitudinal direction of said head and over the entire length thereofwhile following the contour of said head.

References Cited in the file of this patent S. S. White CondensedCatalog of Dental Supplies, 1924, page 72. See: Root Trimmers item 1.(Available in Div. 55.)

